Electric switch



@Wi- 18, 1956 o. H. HASSELBAUM 2,763,753

ELEQTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY 0f/@WWW Spt., 18, 1956 o. H. HASSELBAUM 2,763,753

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELECTREQ SWITCH `(Jscax' H. Hasselhaum, Arlington, Mass., assigner to Joseph Pollak Corporation, Dorchester, lidass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 29, 1952, Seriai No. 263,810

3 Claims. (Cl. 20d-166) The present invention relates to an automotive switch which is particularly used in the dash board of an autovmobilebut may also find suitable application where a combination of electrical circuits are to be energized, as for instance, ignition circuits, starter circuits and accessory circuits. The invention will therefore apply to aircraft, automobiles, tractors and other motor vehicles and also to other types of engines which may employ starter and ignition circuits and other such similar circuit combinations in other machines.

The present invention is aimed to produce a very simple unit. An important feature of the` present invention is that a single integral rotor` member is employed on which a set of switch contacts rest positioned for engagement with an `opposing surface having inset conducting studs for switching from one circuit connection to the other as the case may be.

The present invention is particularly applicable 'to igni tion and starter switches wherein the switch is turned by a key which may comprise a rotor cylinder lock or any other type of lock in which a keying element is provided in the lock for engagement with the rotary element. In most of the prior ignition-like switches used on automobile and other similar equipment, the rotating elements were composed of a number of parts, some of `which locked with the keying structure and others of which were attached to the rotary element for turning the rotary element upon engagement of the keying element.

i In the present instance all intermediate elements have been eliminated and a single unitary structure is employed which is engaged by the keying element for turning the switch. A helical spring which is free from the rotary element has one end fixed to the housing and the other end in certain positions moved by the rotor.

Thetrotor member, is in the present instance, molded as a unitary insulating rotor with no current connection extending to it so that it is free to move without hindrance or restraint except by the spring in certain positions,

The rotor switch plate carried by the insuiating rotor element brings in the battery current through a connection in the fixed contact plate and distributes the battery current through the rotor switch plate to the ignition, starter or accessory units, in whatever manner is required.

Further advantages and improvements of the present invention will be more readily understood from the description in the specification set forth below when taken in connection with the drawings illustrating an embodiment therein, in which:

Figure l shows an exploded view with parts broken away of the switch of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view looking into the housing of the switch.

Figure 3 shows a section taken substantially onfthe line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a face view of the insulating rotor of Figure l as seen looking from the `bottom of the rotor.

Figure 5 shows a side elevation of the rotor. Figure 6 shows atop plan view of the rotor with the 2,763,753 Patented Sept. 1 l 8,1956

contact connecting plate shown in place in dotted line.

Figure 7 is a perspective View` of the rotor element in an enlarged position and turned at an angle from the view shown in Figure l.

In the arrangement indicated in the figures, l is a housing which may be `made of aluminum or other suitable light metal. The housing at the bottom as seen in Figure l is provided with a shoulder or inwardly extending flange 2 andan axially extending sleeve or neck portion 3 in which the smaller end of the rotor element 4 is positioned. The housing 1 is provided on its inside with a pin 5 which is secured in the side of the housing (see Figure 3). A helical spring 6 of about three turns rests against the inside wall of the housing and has one end 7 bent upwards engaging one one side of the pin 5 and projecting upwards beyond the pin, and the other end of the .spring engaging in a hole 8 (see Figure 2) in the shoulder 2.

The inner surface of the shoulder 2 is formed in two steps comprising a comparatively wider horizontal annular section 9 and a comparatively narrower parallel annular section lil slightly raised above the section 9. Centrally located with respect to the annular sections 9 and 1t) is an inner opening il. of the sleeve or neck portion 3 which also `is provided with a shoulder section 12 in which the rotor element i is seated for engagement with a lock i3. The lock i3 at its end is provided with a key bar 14 for engagement with the rotor as will be presently explained.

T he rotor d which is shown in Figures l, 4, 5 and 6, is formed of an insulating material, such as Bakelite hard rubber or other suitable composition insulating materials, commonly used in electric switches. The top surface l5 of the rotor 4 is smooth and flat and has two circular holes 16 and 17 in which the springs 18 and 19 rest for holding the switch Contact plate 2G in position spaced from the surface 15 of the rotor so that a spring pressed contact will be maintained between the switch contact rotor member or plate Zi and the contact studs in the cover plate 23 to establish good contact as the rotor is turned. These two springs also help to provide a tightness to the entire rotating structure and aid in effecting the positive check action of the switch as the switch is moved from one position to another position.

These springs are the only spring elements used for this purpose other than the small spring-s 2l on which the balls 22 rest for providing a definite positioning of t the rotor member 4 in its various circuit positions.

The rotor member 4 is provided with an annular iange 24 which is divided into three sections, 25, 26 and 27 by backwardly projecting posts or blocks 29 and 30 which extend backwards from the edge of the rotor normal to the face of the rotor at the edge. Between the posts 31 and Sti, adjacent the post 3l is a backwardly extending segmentZS forming a step. These backward extending blocks serve both to line up for guiding purposes the rotor within the casing and also serve to keep downthe top turn of the spring 6 which rests freely near to or against the inside wall of the housing. The upward extension 7 (Figure 3) of the spring 6 is positioned to ride under the surface of the flange section 25 and whenthe rotor is turned, the edge 33 of the segment 28 comes to bear against one side of theprojectingends 7 4of the spring while the lower ends of the segments 29, 30 and 31 bear on the top of the helical spring. When therotor has been turned so that the edge 33 of the segment has tensioned the spring for a certain arc of a circle, then the face 34 of the post 3l, comes up againsta fixed `pinS thereby limiting the motion of the rotor in that direction.

. In the other. direction the edge 35 of the post- ."vtlcomes up against the up-turned end 7 of the spring on lthe :other side of which is locatedthe pin 5 which` thereby. provides the limit of motion of the rotor in this direction. The off position of the switch is approximately one half way between the surfaces 33 and 35 and this is maintained as the off position due to the lock which holds the switch in this ofi position when the key is not in the lock and also to the balls 22 backed `up by the springs 21, which balls in this ofi position ride in diametrically opposite grooves 36 and 37 in a base flange 38 of the rotor. Y

The diametrically opposite grooves 36 and 37 are in slightly raised fiat sections 39 and 4t) respectively of the flange 38 and adjacent these flat sections 39 and 4() are two recessed segments, 4l and 42 respectively which have gradual upwardly tapering faces with central regions at 43 and 44 higher than at their ends which terminate in shoulders 45, 46, for the section 4l, and 7, 4S for the section 42, respectively. ln the oit position of the switch, the balls 22 ride in the grooves 36 and 37 and in the on position of the switch, but not including starting as they ride against the shoulders 45, 47 and 46, 48, while in the starting position of the switch the balls rest upon the high sections 43 and 44 of the flanges 4l and i2 respectively, so that as soon as the manual holding through the key is released the action of the spring 6 against the rotor will move the rotor back into ignition position. There is therefore no restraining action in any event in lthe starter position and further this position is definitely fixed by the engagement of the pin against the surface 34 of the rotor. The rotor is turned by the turning of the barrel 13 and the key bar 14 which engages in either the slots 49 or 5@ depending upon the type of lock which is used with the switch.

The cover plate 23, Figure l, carries insert contact studs S1. As used in an automotive switch the stud 51 serves in the switch for ignitio-n purposes; the stud 52 for the starter; the stud 53 for accessory units and 54 for the battery. ln the operation of the rotor member in the normal oli position, the conductive contact rotor Z has a boss 55 lying to the left of the Contact 54 and a boss 56 between the studs S3 and 54 with a boss 57 approximately in contact with the starter stud 52. lf the rotor is then moved in the direction of the arrow A, the boss S5 will move towards but not in Contact with the ignition stud 51 and the bosses 56 and 57 will take up positions on the battery stud 54 and the accessory stud 53. l'n this position neither ignition nor starter circuits are energized, but the accessory circuits such as lights, if desired, or radio, etc., are energized. if the rotor contact switch or plate is moved in the direction opposite from the direction of the arrow A, the first position will put the bosses 56 and 57 in contact with the studs 53 and 5l respectively, while the boss 55 is on the stud 54, energizing the accessory and the ignition circuit. When the rotor contact plate has been moved further against the action oi the spring 6, the bosses 56 and 57 will come in contact with the studs 52 and 5l respectively, while the boss SS continues to bear on the stud S4 of the cover plate and so that both the starter and ignition circuits are energized. This is a manual hold position and not a self retained position so that when the key or manual turning switch arm is released, the rotor will slide back over the balls 22 on account of the action of the spring 6 and assume a position where the bosses 56 and 57 are in contact with the studs 53 and 51 respectively. The rotor conductive plate is spring mounted as has been stated for axial rotation as the rotor is turned, but is held in place with free spring movement in the axial direction of the rotor by three tabs, 58, 59 and 60, which rest in slots 6l, 62 and 63 respectively in the rotor 4. In view of these three guiding tabs, one perpendicular to the other two, only two springs are necessary for giving the rotor perfect frictional contact with the inside face of the contact stud plate or cover 23.

In the assembly of the switch, the top of the housing is provided with an inwardly extending flange 64 and a guide pin 65 projecting slightly inward intovthe housing 1 just above the shoulder .64. The outside rim 66 of the tit) cover plate 23 is provided with a vertical groove 67 which serves to position accurately the cover plate in the top of the housing since this groove engages the pin when the cover plate is put in its proper position. The cover plate is secured in place by turning over the lip 68 over the rear shoulder of the cover plate.

The contact studs shown on the inner face of the cover are brought through the plate to terminals on the back of the plate of which two are seen in Figure l, as 69 and 70.

The housing 1 as indicated in Figure l may be lightcned with cut-away sections, or the housing may be continuous if desired.

The projecting flanges around the neck or sleeve 3 and end sections are used for interlocking the switch with a bezzle having a sleeve extending through a hole in the dash board of the machine.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. A switch of the type described comprising a cylindrical housing having an inwardly projecting base with a central opening therethrough, a pair of ball bearings positioned in recesses having springs underneath the ball bearings in said inwardly projecting base on diametrical- 1y opposite sides of said central opening, an insulating rotor fitting on said base within the cylindrical Walls of said housing, the base of said rotor having diametrically opposite grooves to engage said balls and a plurality of recessed shoulders extending radially at angles from the axis of the rotor with a raised tapering surface in the segments between said recessed shoulders, a helical coil spring having one end secured in the base of the housing with the turns of the spring adjacent the cylindrical Wall of the housing around the lower section of the rotor and the other end of the opening projecting upwards adjacent the side wall of the housing, a fixed pin projecting inwardly of the housingabout which the last mentioned end of the spring is tensioned, said rotor having side recessed sections adapted to engage the upwardly projecting end of the spring and said pin when turned in one direction and said pin when turned in the opposite direction, a rotor contact plate having projecting bosses fixed on the face of the rotor in a plane normal to the rotor axis, and a fixed contact stud plate opposed thereto fixed in said housing.

2. A switch of the type described comprising a cylindrical housing having an inwardly projecting base with a central opening therethrough, a pair of ball bearings positioned in recesses having springs underneath the ball bearings in said inwardly projecting base on diametrically opposite sides or" said central opening, an insulating rotor fitting on said base within the cylindrical walls of said housing, the base of said rotor having diametrically opposite grooves to engage said balls and a plurality of recessed shoulders extending radially at angles from the axis of the rotor with a raised tapering surface in the segments between said recessed shoulders, a helical coil spring having one end secured in the base of the housing with the turns of the spring adjacent the cylindrical wall of the housing around the lower section of the rotor and the other end of the opening projecting upwards adjacent the side wall of the housing, a fixed pin projeeting inwardly of the housing about which the last mentioned end of the spring is tensioned, said rotor having side recessed sections adapted to engage the upwardly projecting end of the spring and said pin when turned in one direction and said pin when turned in the op- .posite direction, a rotor contact plate having projecting bosses fixed on the face of the rotor in a plane normal to the rotor axis, and a xed contact stud plate opposed .thereto fixed in said housing, said housing in its rotational movement having an ofi position when said balls engage the diametrically opposite grooves, on positions when the balls engage the shoulders on the base of the rotor and temporary on positions while the rotor is held against the tension of said helical spring with the balls in `the raised region of the base segments of said rotor.

3. A switch of the type described comprising a housing having a base and side walls, an insulating rotor fitting in ,said housing on the base thereof for rotation about an axis normal to a top surface of the rotor, a helical coil Ilspring having one end secured in the base of the housing with the turns of the spring between and adjacent the side walls of the housing and the lower section of the rotor and the other end of the spring projecting upwards adjacent the side wall of the housing, a fixed pin projecting inwardly of the housing against which the last mentioned end of the spring is tensioned, said rotor having side projecting flanges adapted to bear against the top of the helical spring and to engage the upwardly projecting end of the spring and said pins when turned in one direction and said pin when turned in the opposite direction, said side projecting flanges including an arcuate segment having a low stepped shoulder terminating in a stop on one side and an abrupt stop on the other side, said low stepped shoulder edge adapted to engage the upwardly projecting end of the spring for tensioning the same as the shoulder surface rides over said inwardly projecting pin until the first mentioned stop engages said pin as the rotor turns in one direction,l said abrupt stop serving to limit the rotor turning movement in the other direction when the stop comes up against the upturned end of said spring, a rotor Contact plate having projecting bosses fixed on the face of the rotor in a plane normal to the rotor axis, and a fixed contact stud plate opposed thereto fixed in said housing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,033,252 Parker Mar. 10, 1936 2,062,440 Beal Dec. 1, 1936 2,121,671 Schwarze Tune 21, 1938 2,654,005 Weber Sept. 29, 1953 2,663,780 Hept et al Dec. 22, 1953 

